Conne Island

Cultural center in Leipzig, Germany

Conne Island
Construction
Eiskeller
The center in 2013

Former names	Eiskeller, Klubhaus Erich Zeigner
Location	Leipzig, Germany
Type	Music venue and self-managed social center
Built	19th century
Opened	1991
Website
www.conne-island.de

Conne Island is a music venue and self-managed social center in the Connewitz district of Leipzig, Germany. Outside, there is a large skate park.

History

The building was built in the second half of the 19th century.^{[citation needed]} Initially, it was a restaurant called "Eiskeller" (ice pit). From 1937 onwards, it was used as a center for the Hitler Jugend, and after 1945 in the GDR it was called "Klubhaus Erich Zeigner" and used as a FDJ youth club. Although the name "Eiskeller" is no longer officially used, this name is still in use by the local population as a nickname.^[1]

Conne Island has become a stronghold and well-known meeting point for the radical left.^[2] The center hosts hardcore and punk gigs, and also hip hop, electronic music and heavy metal. A performance by the black metal band Mayhem, recorded in 1990 before the venue became Conne Island, was released in 1993 under the title Live in Leipzig.^[3]

In the 2010s, the center became known as an Anti-German project. Palestinian keffiyehs would be confiscated and returned at the end of the night with a note.^[1] The project celebrated 20 years of existence in 2011.^[1] In 2016, there were controversies when a self-confessed "Islam hater" spoke at the center and women spoke up about being sexually harassed at club nights.^[4]^[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, German-American record label Unity Worldwide Records compiled and released a benefit Various Artists compilation to help keep the venue open.^[6]^[7] Strength Thru Unity: A Conne Island Benefit Compilation was released on 18 October 2021 and features exclusive songs from As Friends Rust, Be Well, Beatsteaks, Boysetsfire, Cock Sparrer, Comeback Kid, Death by Stereo, Field Day, Heaven Shall Burn, Pascow, Perkele, Sick of It All, Terrorgruppe, Think About Mutation, Turbostaat, Youth of Today and Zoli Téglás.^[6]^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Streich, Juliane (15 September 2011). "20 Jahre "Conne Island": Paradies mit Putzdienst". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). Retrieved 4 February 2021.
^ Conne Island (Hrsg.) – 20 YRS – Noch lange nicht Geschichte., Verbrecher-Verlag, Berlin 2011 p.19
^ "Mayhem – Live in Leipzig – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
^ Niewendick, Martin (15 July 2018). "Boykottaufruf nach Auftritt: Warum ein Islamhasser zu Gast bei Linken ist". Die Welt. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
^ Kaul, Martin (12 October 2016). "Flüchtlinge im Conne Island: Verloren in Connewitz". Die Tageszeitung: Taz (in German). Retrieved 4 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b Hereth, Simon (19 February 2021). "Strength Thru Unity: Benefiz-Sampler für das Conne Island in Leipzig". Away from Life (in German). Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Knox (19 February 2021). "Strength Thru Unity: Benefiz-Sampler für das Conne Island in Leipzig". Knox Punkkonzerte Bilder und Videos (in German). Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.